Operational Finance Lead (Accounts Payable) - Folkestone Hybrid

ZipRecruiter; Folkestone; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel company in Folkestone is seeking an Operational Finance Lead to oversee the Accounts Payable team and enhance financial operations. You will manage team performance, report on key metrics, and engage in process improvements and automation. Ideal candidates have a strong Accounts Payable background, leadership skills, and experience in finance operations. The role offers a salary between £36,000 to £41,000 and a hybrid working environment.

Benefits

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Matched pension scheme up to 10%

Annual bonus up to 5%

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Wellbeing programs

Qualifications

• Strong end-to-end Accounts Payable experience with team leadership skills.
• Experience with automation projects and workflow streamlining.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead transactional finance and review/reconciliation activities.
• Produce weekly statistics on invoice processing times.
• Analyze purchase order compliance and report non-adherence.

Skills

Accounts Payable experience

Team leadership skills

Stakeholder management

Automation project experience

Communication skills

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Job Description

£36,000 - £41,000 per annum dependent on experience

Operational Finance Lead (Accounts Payable)

Salary from £36,000 - £41,000 depending on experience

Type: Permanent

Location: Folkestone Hybrid

Saga Travel Group is looking to recruit an Operational Finance Lead to join us in shaping the future of our operational finance function. While you will oversee the Accounts Payable team—including outputs, controls, and process improvements—you will also contribute broadly across finance operations. You’ll support month-end close activities, improve transactional processes, and collaborate cross-functionally to enhance financial reporting accuracy and efficiency.

Our award-winning travel business is on a growth trajectory, and as our Operational Finance Lead, you will be at the heart of our fast-paced finance operations, working with global suppliers. This is an exciting time to join Saga’s Finance community as we implement Workday for our general ledger. Reporting to the Head of Operational Finance, you will lead a team of 4 through this change and ongoing improvements.

We operate in a hybrid manner at Saga, working both remotely and in the office. The role requires attendance at our Folkestone office 3 days a week for collaboration with the wider holidays finance team.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead transactional finance and review/reconciliation activities, fostering a process improvement mindset.
• Produce weekly statistics on invoice processing times and report findings.
• Manage a remote team, develop KPIs, and track SLAs adherence.
• Collaborate with the Finance Analyst to post supplier reclaims and confirm agreements.
• Analyze purchase order compliance and report non-adherence to the Head of Finance.
• Review aged creditors for duplicates and ensure invoice accuracy.
• Check processed invoices against accruals and work with the team to address discrepancies.
• Reconcile Pax2Pay statements, match transactions, and resolve discrepancies.
• Analyze actuals versus margin reports, identify discrepancies, and communicate corrections.
• Perform balance sheet reconciliations for Aged Creditors and BSP debtors.
• Conduct cancellation cost analysis, ensuring costs are accurately accounted for and accrued.
• Support the Accounts Payable automation project, ensuring data accuracy and system validation.

Ideal Candidate

• Strong end-to-end Accounts Payable experience with team leadership skills.
• Experience in the travel sector is desirable but not essential.
• Proven business partnering skills and stakeholder management.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Experience with automation projects and workflow streamlining.
• Supplier management and query resolution skills.
• Knowledge of internal controls, compliance, audit, tax, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with ERP systems, Excel, and reporting tools.

Package & Benefits

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays, with options to purchase additional leave.
• Matched pension scheme up to 10%.
• Annual bonus up to 5% based on company performance.
• Life assurance (4x salary), wellbeing programs, and colleague discounts.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, income protection, and access to Saga Academy.

About Saga

With over 70 years of experience, Saga is the UK's leading provider of products and services for people over 50. We are committed to fairness, diversity, and inclusion, offering equal opportunities and making reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from recruitment agencies.